Colin Syliva, RIP,  gave me one of the most sublime football moments I've ever seen.

There was a long high ball coming forward towards an already-formed pack, which was scrambling and scuffling all over the place. Syliva was perfectly positioned, got a clean run right into that pack and was the only player with complete concentration on the ball. The mark itself wasn't even that spectacular, but there was the grace of a shark swimming through fish. And because he was so perfectly set up and so clearly the most alert to the flight of the ball, it was obvious what was about to happen, long before it happened.

A moment of football perfection. Must have been a decade ago but I still remember it vividly. Which probably means it will be with me permanently.

Thoughts for his family and friends. He will be rememebered.

 

Not sure I want to read the comments about what he could/should have been, nor do I need to know about his frailties, as though we are all who we should be, as though we all overcome our frailties. His teammates loved him, the kids he visited in hospital, his family and the people he spent so much time caring about loved him.

I loved watching him, I loved the fact he gave his life his best shot, I feel so sad that he's gone.

7 hours ago, Nasher said:

This stings.

We all have our views on players. We like to argue and get heated over it. Sometimes we’re bloody harsh about it too - we’re passionate football fans after all.

That all goes out the window and seems so petty when this happens. All I see is a bloke I can identify, who is about my age, who has had his time cut terribly short. The idea that in your 30s your best years could be behind you and what lies ahead is absolutely nothing is sobering.

I recently dealt with the death of a mate and the impact it had on his family is indescribable. The football world can offer an enormous support network; I hope Colin’s family has access to it. They are going to need all they can get. I am gutted for them.

Vale Colin.

Maybe we could put him on the masthead banner, Until after his funeral.?

Rest in peace. Gone far too soon. Shocking to hear. So sad for those close to him. It is at moments like these when I realise the truth of the saying "Never complain about growing old. Not everyone gets the chance".

I Tragic is a word used far too freely in footy parlance (missed a goal, lost a close game, lost a close GF) but this brings it into perspective. 

Unfortunately too many young & ex Demons have died far too young.  Broadbridge, Flower, Stynes, Wight, Sylvia to name a few.  Those are tragic. 

Edited October 29, 20186 yr by monoccular

Loved Col right from day dot the moment he walked through the door because he was a true blue country kid like myself who loved a beer, women, the punt, and footy on a weekends.

Didn't take life seriously at all and just lived and had fun at the same time.

On football ability he was by far the most gifted and prodigious talent i have ever seen don the red and blue, even to this day. I went to that Hawthorn game back in 2009 where he had 37 disposals and kicked 4 goals and thought that genuine star inside of him was ready to explode.

He just had it all.. speed, power, strength, a booming kick (kicked a huge goal against carlton on his left foot outside of 50 one day mind you..) ariel ability and a body of a greek god who i was very envious of because how ridiculously chiselled he was! 

Unfortunately we never saw that potential talent that he teased us with, but boy the days he was on he could seriously light up the MCG and bring joys and smiles to Melbourne supporters during dark times.

To Cols family, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.. i hope one day you find peace knowing Col lived life to the fullest and that cheeky smile touched many heart who came close to him.

Thank you for making us smile during those 157 game career.

Rip mate.

Edited October 29, 20186 yr by dazzledavey36

A day on and still numb from the sad news.

Whilst there was always a tinge of regret for what Col might have been, what he was on field was still pretty good. Especially when you consider the performances of the (many) players around him at the time, Colin still managed to give us quite a few highlights in some pretty lowly times.

Will always be one of my favourites, rest in peace Colin Sylvia.

 

I was curious about the origin of the surname Sylvia so looked it up. It's apparently Old English but most interestingly (and pleasing) was that Colin is named in the article as one of the "Contemporary Notables of the Name Sylvia (post 1700)". 

8 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I was curious about the origin of the surname Sylvia so looked it up. It's apparently Old English but most interestingly (and pleasing) was that Colin is named in the article as one of the "Contemporary Notables of the Name Sylvia (post 1700)". 

I am a relative of Colin and am shocked and saddened by his passing, Life just isn't fair sometimes. Just in relation to the origins of the name, It is widely believed to be of Portuguese origin. De Silva, De Sylva are some of the derivatives. My Great Grandfather, who would also be a lineal ancestor of Colin was from the upper north east of the USA around Boston Massachusetts. Regards. GS.

36 minutes ago, Dee Since 73 said:

I am a relative of Colin and am shocked and saddened by his passing, Life just isn't fair sometimes. Just in relation to the origins of the name, It is widely believed to be of Portuguese origin. De Silva, De Sylva are some of the derivatives. My Great Grandfather, who would also be a lineal ancestor of Colin was from the upper north east of the USA around Boston Massachusetts. Regards. GS.

Thanks for the family background, DS.  Condolences to you and the rest of the Sylvia family.  So tragic!  Just hope you are  little heartened at the knowledge that Dees fans have very fond memories of that cheeky grin, the warm hearted reaching out to the ill and needy and, of course, those occasions when he lit up the "G" in the red & blue!

23 minutes ago, Vagg said:

Thanks for the family background, DS.  Condolences to you and the rest of the Sylvia family.  So tragic!  Just hope you are  little heartened at the knowledge that Dees fans have very fond memories of that cheeky grin, the warm hearted reaching out to the ill and needy and, of course, those occasions when he lit up the "G" in the red & blue!

Thank you very much. Yes Col always was on for a chat and the first to put up his hand to help out. I think if you drill down we were something like 2nd cousins but were always aware of each other and always had a chat about the footy. He will be missed. Thanks again. Greg Sylvia.

Quite simply, what a wonderful extended family we all belong to - so much diversity, yet united by a common love of all things and people red and blue.

1 hour ago, Call Me What You Will said:

Quite simply, what a wonderful extended family we all belong to - so much diversity, yet united by a common love of all things and people red and blue.

Grief does have a way of uniting us all. 

And its reminder that much of our daily life is insignificant and unimportant. 

And its a tribute to Colin that he was loved by so many. 

That is his legacy.  

RIP  Colin Sylvia

he enormous ability but he had his issues in life and sometimes God can really test you.

Always remember you.

Had he have had better coaches he may have been more consistent. 

On 10/29/2018 at 3:31 PM, Demonland said:

 

I felt the re release of this article by Slobbo demonstrated pretty bad judgement.

I'm not a believer in whitewashing people's life stories upon their passing. Indeed, I think what he said was entirely fair when this article was released as Col wasn't even given a farewell press conference. Things had gotten that contentious at Freo.

However, to try to make 'waste of talent' the last word on Col, especially when by all accounts he had finally started to settle down in the area that really matters (REAL LIFE), would be pretty galling to his relatives and friends.

A new article considering Col as a flawed but well meaning human being might have been more appropriate. I'm sure Slobbo wouldn't like the microscope applied to some of his extra curricular activities.

21 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

I felt the re release of this article by Slobbo demonstrated pretty bad judgement.

I'm not a believer in whitewashing people's life stories upon their passing. Indeed, I think what he said was entirely fair when this article was released as Col wasn't even given a farewell press conference. Things had gotten that contentious at Freo.

However, to try to make 'waste of talent' the last word on Col, especially when by all accounts he had finally started to settle down in the area that really matters (REAL LIFE), would be pretty galling to his relatives and friends.

A new article considering Col as a flawed but well meaning human being might have been more appropriate. I'm sure Slobbo wouldn't like the microscope applied to some of his extra curricular activities.

Your post is a little ambiguous, so, just to be clear, while the article was written by Robbo, I suspect its re-release probably had nothing to do with him but was more likely an editorial decision by the publisher. 

1 minute ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Your post is a little ambiguous, so, just to be clear, while the article was written by Robbo, I suspect its re-release probably had nothing to do with him but was more likely an editorial decision by the publisher. 

That being said, the editors then should have a think about whether that was a good idea or not. 

19 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

That being said, the editors then should have a think about whether that was a good idea or not. 

Completely agree with you.

51 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Completely agree with you.

didn't know they still had editors at major newspapers 

lets be respectful and stay on topic. ie: Sylvias passing.

... not the papers.  That rubbish can go in another thread, at another time in history.

21 hours ago, Dee Since 73 said:

I am a relative of Colin and am shocked and saddened by his passing, Life just isn't fair sometimes. Just in relation to the origins of the name, It is widely believed to be of Portuguese origin. De Silva, De Sylva are some of the derivatives. My Great Grandfather, who would also be a lineal ancestor of Colin was from the upper north east of the USA around Boston Massachusetts. Regards. GS.

Nice One GS.

I shall watch/ listen to some Fado tonight and think of Col .